Cushion-sole footwear.



` '1. -A. Rim. CUSHION SOILE FOOTWEAR.

` y APPLICATION FILED AUG-21. 19|6.

I,290,352.' Patented Jn. 7,1919.

A r ITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. REID, F FREDERICTON, NEW BRNSWICK, CANADA, ASSIGNOR T0 THE HARTT BOUT ANDA SHGE COMPANY, LIMITED, OF FREDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA.

CUSHION-SOLE roerwnan.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. *7, 1919.

Application led August 21, 1916. Serial No. 116,103.

-dent of the city of Fredericton, in theAProvince of New Brunswick and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain -n'ew and useful Improvements in Cushion Sole Foote Wear, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in footwear and more particularly footwear of the cushion sole variety. The object of the invention is to provide an article of footwear having the sole cushion thereof extending fullyto the edge of the insole and free from ridges or hard, compacted portions, caused by stitches, which would cause discomfort to the wearers feet. further ob ject is to provide lan article of footwear which may -be manufactured more readily and cheaply than heretofore.

The invention consists, broadly, in providing an insole channeled in the usual man-ner preparatory for the inseaming operation, a cushion and a cushion cover having side flaps which fold down sharply from the edges of the cover and are attached under the insole by the welt stitches or other suitable means.

ln the drawings which illustrate the invention:-`

Figure 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a shoe showing the cushion sole in position. I

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cushion sole cover, part of the flap stitching being removed.

`Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates an insole of ordinary form having the edge split to form a flap 12 which is folded inwardly on the underside of the insole, as shown. The material is also channeled at 13, adjacent the edge for the insearning operation. A cushion 11i of suitable material, such as soft wool felt, conforming to the shape of the insole, is applied to the upper surface thereof and may be attached, except at 'the heel, by a suitable adhesive. The cushion is provided with a cover 15 of suitable material, preferably leather, which also conforms to the shape of the insole. This cover is provided with side flaps 16 which extend, preferably, from near the toe end of the cover to approximately the front end ofthe heel portion, as shown.

According tothis invention these flaps 16 are preferably of leather, integral with the cover, and separated therefrom by score lines 17, i. e., shallow cuts which extend only part way through the leather. Tn order to give the requisite 4strength to prevent the flaps tearing away from the cover the score line is crossed by a series of stitches 18 which yconnect the cushion cover with its flaps independently of the material at the score line. These stitches are of such nature that there is a' limited yield or spring` in them which will permit the flaps to be folded sharply away` from the cover thus forming a well defined edge. 1t will be readily `understood that without the score line the cover when folded would assume a curved form and more or less compress the cushion at the edges. Tf the cover was left slack enough to avoid such a compression of the cushion there would be a strong tendency to wrinkle or bunch. It will thus be seen that the use of this score line is important and that it enables the cushion to be carried clear to the edge of the insole and to the sides of the shoe without any compression at the edges and Without leaving a practically cushionless trough or margin, as would occur with a flap merely folded. Such a compression of the cushion causes a hard ridge at the edges which would be a constant source of discomfort to the wearer of the shoe.

In making the shoe, the cover, cushion and insole may be stitched 'together atl the toe by stitches 19 passing through and through the members. This is permissible at the toe portion Where the Wearers foot will not come in contact with 'the hardness thus produced and this stitching is of great convenience in holding the parts firmly in position during subsequent manufacturing operations. It will be noted, however, that at no other point are there any stitches cxtending through the cover, cushion and iusole. The flaps 16 are then turned sharply away from the cove'i` and bent under the insole and temporarily secured by adhesive or other means. This flap is suiiciently wide to be caught by the stitches which secure the welt 21 and u pper 22 to the insole. No

additional operat1on or stitching` i's required to secure the cover and cushion. In attaching the heel, the heel portion of the cushion cover is laid or folded forwardly so that the nails do not pass through the cover.

While the fiaps 16 have been previously referred to as integral with the cover it is obvious that this is not. an essentialfeature, although desirable, as the flaps may be separate pieces of leather or fabric securedfto the cover by suitable stitching so that they will extend at approximately right angles to the cover and leave the sharply defined edge previously referred to.

What I .claim is V l. In footwear, a cushion cover, flaps at the edges thereof and defined therefrom' by score lines, stitching connecting the flaps and cover, an insole, stitches connecting the cover v the cover a to the insole at the toe, and welt stitches connecting the cover flaps to the insole.

2'. In footwear, an insole, a cushion cover, flaps integral therewith but defined therefrom by'score lines and stitching reinforcing the material at the score lines.

3. In footwear, a sole cushion, a cushion cover, integral attaching flaps for said cover, stitches reinforcing the connection of the integral flaps and cushion cover, said flaps bcing disposed at approximately right angles to the plane of the cover and forming with Well-defined edge and a score line defining each flap from the cover at the cover edge.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

` JOHN A. REID. Witnesses:

JOHN R. WALKER, CHAs. F. ROBERTS. 

